Texas, which improved to 39-12 overall and leads the Big 12 with a 16-7 conference mark, tallied single runs in the first, third and fourth innings off Nebraska starter Jamie Rodrigue, who pitched well in a losing effort.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, the Huskers had their best chance to send the contest into extra innings off Simmons, who struck out six in picking up his 13th straight win. Will Bolt’s two-out double and a walk to Jeff Leise put runners on first and second for Justin Seely. The Husker left fielder promptly slapped a hard-hit single to left, but NU’s rally was thwarted on a controversial call at the plate, as Eric Sultemeier threw out Bolt at the plate. Television replays showed that Bolt slid under the tag of UT catcher Ryan Hubele, while home plate umpire Dan O’Connell was screened behind Hubele on the play.

“I saw him safe and that’s why we reacted that way,” Nebraska Coach Dave Van Horn said. “He (O’Connell) told us he was out. We knew he was safe. We didn’t need the replays.”

“I thought I was there, and their guy (Sultemeier) made a great throw,” Bolt said. “They made some great defensive plays to hold on.”

Nebraska, which dropped to 31-17 and 15-11 in the Big 12, threatened for a final time with two outs in the ninth off Texas closer Huston Street, as Jeff Blevins singled to center and Drew Anderson was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Brandon Eymann then laced a grounder that Longhorn second baseman Tim Moss made a spectacular diving stop on before throwing Eymann out at first to end the contest.

After jumping to a 1-0 lead in the first on Jed Morris’ 14th homer of the season, a two-out shot to right, Simmons held the Husker offense at bay, allowing NU just one hit, an infield single by Anderson in the fifth, before the Huskers threatened in the eighth.

Texas came right back in the bottom of the first, tying the score at 1-1 on Jeff Ontiveros’ RBI single to left, one of three consecutive two-out hits for the Longhorns. The Longhorns took their first lead of the day in the fourth, as Moss opened the inning with a leadoff double to the gap in left center, advanced to third on a ground out before scoring on wild pitch.

UT extended the lead to 3-1 in the fourth, as Hubele led off the inning with a double and eventually came home on Kalani Napoleon’s sacrifice fly to center.

Rodrigue settled down after the rocky start, and allowed one hit through his final three innings. The St. Clair, Mo., native struck out three and walked one in seven innings. The Husker southpaw allowed three runs on eight hits, but dropped to 5-3 on the season with the loss.

The Huskers got within 3-2 in the fifth, tallying an unearned run on John Grose’s sacrifice fly to center field. Anderson opened the frame with an infield single and moved into scoring position on Tim Moss’ error on the play. An Eymann ground out moved Anderson to third before scoring one batter later on Grose’s 21st RBI.

The teams will conclude the series Sunday afternoon at 1p.m., as freshman left-hander Brian Duensing (3-1, 4.44 ERA) will take the hill for NU while Texas has not announced its starter for the series finale.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.